Preview - Newcastle United

WEST HAM UNITED v NEWCASTLE UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
BOLEYN GROUND
SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MIKE DEAN

 

Match sponsor

Saturday's match sponsor is Romax Solutions, a fast growing Recruitment & Operation Solutions consultancy with over 20 years combined experience specialising in two business divisions- Building & Construction and Facilities Management.

Visit their website here.

In brief

West Ham United entertain in form Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon as the Hammers look to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat by Everton last weekend.

The Magpies are currently fifth in the Premier League table having taken 19 points from their eleven league games. After a slow start to their campaign, Alan Pardew's team have won their last six games, conceding just one goal in the process.

Sam Allardyce's men are just one place behind, sitting in sixth position with 18 points. After a great start to the season, the Hammers are looking for their first win in four games as their results haven't matched their performances of late.

Come Saturday, there will be several reunions as Alan Pardew returns to the Boleyn Ground, where he had an three year spell as boss, while Sam Allardyce and Kevin Nolan face their former employers. Andy Carroll could return, in what would be his first home start of the season, to face his former club.

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Who are they?

Newcastle United have a reputation as one of the biggest clubs in English football. Created in 1881 when local sides Stanley and Rosewood merged together, their first taste of glory came in 1898 when they won promotion to the First Division.

They have been crowned First Division champions four times, way back in 1904/05, 1906/07, 1908/09 and 1926/27. Further glory has come in the form of the FA Cup which they have won six times, most recently in 1955.

More recently, the Magpies have come close to ending their barren run, finishing second in 1996 and 1997 as well as being FA Cup runners up in 1998 and 1999.

Team news

West Ham United

Stewart Downing returned to training this week after picking up a knee injury while on international duty and is in contention to play. Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate picked up knocks in the last couple of weeks and are continuing to be assessed.

Diafra Sakho, Alex Song and Enner Valencia are unlikely to feature while Winston Reid is unavailable through suspension.

Newcastle

The Magpies' injury crisis appears to be lifting as Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Cheik Tiote and Emmanuel Riviere have all returned to training.

However, exciting prospect Rolando Aarons is out while Ryan Taylor picked up an injury against Queens Park Rangers.

Newcastle will also be without Siem De Jong (Thigh), Davide Santon (Knee) and Gabriel Obertan (Hip)

Referee

Saturday's referee is Wirral based Mike Dean. The 46-year-old is one of the most experienced referees in the country as he made his Premier League debut 14 seasons ago.

The one West Ham game Dean has officiated this season was the disappointing 3-1 home defeat by Southampton in August.

Ominously, in games Dean has taken charge of this season, the home side has won just once in nine games.

The Assistant Referees are John Brooks and Stuart Burt, while James Adcock is the Fourth Official.

Statistics

(2014/15 season - Barclays Premier League only)
Matches refereed: 9
Yellow cards shown: 42
Red cards shown: 2
Penalties awarded: 0

One to watch

West Ham United

After completing his first 90 minutes of the season against Everton last weekend, could make his first home start of the season against his boyhood club.

Newcastle

The former Tenerife player had a prolific strike rate in the Segunda Division netting 17 times in 50 appearances. His exploits were rewarded as he won Breakthrough Player and Best Attacking Midfielder on the 2013/14 season.

Tickets

Tickets are now sold out. The last remaining tickets for the Hammers next home game with Swansea City next Saturday are available
here.

Weather

Saturday is set to be a sunny day with temperature at kick off is forecast to be a mild 12C (54F).

Last meeting

West Ham United 1-3 Newcastle United
Barclays Premier League
18 January 2014

Strikes from Yohan Cabaye and Loic Remy put an impressive Newcastle 2-0 up on their last visit to east London, but Carlton Cole's goal in first-half injury time gave the Hammers' hope.

Newcastle added their third four minutes into second half injury time when Cabaye curled a superb free-kick around the wall, off the left post and into the net.

West Ham United: Adrian, Taylor, Rat, Johnson, Collins, Downing, Noble, Jarvis (J Cole 73), Diame (Carroll 62), Collison (Morrison 45), Cole
Subs not used: Jaaskelainen, Chambers, Maiga, Diarra

Newcastle: Krul, Williamson, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon (Dummett 74), Cabaye, Tiote, Anita (Ameobi 60), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (Ben Arfa 78)
Subs not used: Cisse, Obertan, Haidara, Elliot